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“He’s arrogant and too cocky for his own good. The major should take him down a peg or two.”
Hoshi stopped in her tracks. The voice was coming from around the corner, and the person speaking - Corporal Chang, she thought - was coming closer, too. Quickly she stepped into the shadows of a convenient alcove, hugging the wall, as the speaker rounded the corner.
“I heard that.” That came from Private Money. She’d been Hoshi’s opponent in the initial training session with the MACOs. “Reed’s walking around with a stick up his ass and his nose in the air. These Fleeters think they’re so much better than us grunts.”
Hoshi frowned. So the MACOs thought they could talk smack about her crewmates and Lieutenant Reed, did they? Her annoyance grew as Corporal Amanda Cole spoke up.
“Let’s be real, we’ll wipe the floor with them every time. They’re Starfleet trained so sure, their hand-to-hand combat skills are pretty good, but they don’t spend enough time practising. The major’s tried to get the senior staff into more regular sessions but the Fleeter lieutenant’s blocking him.”
“I’d give a lot to see them put in their place,” added Corporal Romero. “Most of them aren’t too bad - Sato and Mayweather are pretty okay - but some of the rest could do with a bit of egg on their faces. Starting with Lieutenant Reed.”
The voices faded as the group continued along the corridor to the MACO quarters. Clenching her fists, Hoshi slipped out of the alcove and continued on her way to the armoury to meet Ensign Parker for lunch.
“Woah, what’s with the thundercloud, Hoshi?” Ensign Esk Parker looked both worried and annoyed as their friend walked into the armoury. “Whose ass do I have to kick?”
Hoshi opened her mouth, about to unload her frustration about the MACO conversation she’d overheard, when over Esk’s shoulder she spotted Lieutenant Reed looking their way. His grey eyes warmed as they met hers, and he smiled in greeting. Nodding in return, Hoshi decided that there was no way she was going to let the armoury officer know what she’d heard, particularly what they’d had the gall to say about him.
Bad enough there was tension between the two groups, it didn’t need to be added to with overheard personal attacks on the Enterprise head of security. And, she conceded internally, she didn’t want his feelings to be hurt. So she closed her mouth and gave Esk a small head-shake, indicating that she wanted to keep this private. Esk nodded at once.
“Heading to lunch, boss,” they said to Lieutenant Reed. “Get you anything?”
“No thanks, Parker,” he said. “I’m not really hungry at the moment. Just getting ready for the training bout with the MACOs.”
“It’s tomorrow, right, Lieutenant?” Hoshi piped up, looking thoughtful. An idea had popped into her head.
“That’s correct, Ensign,” confirmed the tactical officer. “Twenty-hundred hours. You’ll be participating, will you?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, sir,” Hoshi grinned. “See you then.”
She and Esk headed for the mess hall, deciding by tacit consent not to discuss anything in the corridors. They’d scarcely seated themselves at a table in the corner before Esk was demanding to know what had upset Hoshi so. As the communications officer told her tale, Malcolm’s SIC grew more rigid, their face more thunderous by the moment.
“Why those…!” they burst out, and Hoshi shushed them quickly.
“Not so loud! There are a few of them just a couple of tables away!” Esk subsided, grumbling, and stabbing at their food as though it had personally wronged them. “But look, Esk - tomorrow’s the next sparring session, right? I have some retribution in mind. Specifically, what we’ve been practising.”
A feral grin made its way onto Esk’s face, and they glanced at the nearby MACO table. “You going to volunteer? The boss says he won’t let me go first; he says it would be an unfair advantage.”
Hoshi grinned. “He has an unknown ace up his sleeve, then, and the best part is - I don't look like a threat,” she said. “Meet you tonight for a last practice run.”
—
The next night the senior officers and armoury staff gathered in Cargo Bay 2 for their additional hand-to-hand combat training. The Starfleet personnel lined up on one side, with the MACOs on the other. Major Hayes stepped to the centre to outline what would happen.
“We’ll take it one by one, see what you’re capable of, and then pair off to focus on specific gaps. The aim will be to take down your opponent once; then whoever's standing moves on to the next opponent. Agreed?” He looked at everyone and they nodded, Hayes focusing on Lieutenant Reed, who was keeping his face as neutral as possible and who nodded stiffly.
“Very well then, let’s get started. Who’ll go first? Lieut-”
“I will,” Hoshi interrupted. She intercepted a startled glance from Malcolm, who made an involuntary move as though to stop her, but she gave him a quick smile and determinedly stepped forward.
Hayes looked at her strangely but seemed to accept her choice. He gestured Private Money forward - the two had been opponents in the first training session, so Hoshi had a good idea of the MACO’s skills, but knew better than to underestimate the woman.
Squaring off, the women lifted their hands, both wearing thin sparring gloves. They began circling, each waiting for the first to move. Hoshi kept her left hand up as a blocker, right hand ready for action. Her attention stayed focused on her opponent, ignoring the audience on either side of them.
Then Money moved, blazingly fast, feinting from the right and throwing a punch with her left hand. Hoshi blocked and returned the blows before the two broke apart, wanting to gauge how hard Money would be hitting. Hard enough to cause bruises, she judged, which made her role a little easier. She didn’t have to hold back too much.
As Money threw the next punch, Hoshi stepped into the blow, blocking with her right, then turned so her back was against the other woman’s chest. Reaching back and grabbing Money’s neck with her left hand, she threw her legs into the air so her body was parallel to the ground at shoulder height, then abruptly jerked them down, landing on her feet, knees bending, to hurl the other woman over her shoulder so Money landed on her back, air whooshing out of her lungs. Hoshi released and stepped away, hearing murmuring from the Enterprise crew behind her.
“That’s got to hurt,” Travis said, sotto voce, before he was shushed by someone else.
Hoshi held out a hand to help Money to her feet; the MACO took it reluctantly, then nodded silently to her opponent and went to the back of the line, rubbing her back.
Hayes’ face showed no expression; but he gestured for the next MACO to take their place. Romero stepped forward. He was much bigger than Hoshi, at almost 6’ tall to her 5’6”.
Putting his fists up, Romero smiled. “I’ll try not to hit too hard,” he said. “Wouldn’t want to hurt you too much.”
“Really?” Hoshi said brightly. “That’s so nice of you.” Her voice dropped, though the smile remained on her face. “Pity I can’t make the same promise.”
Romero gave a few half-hearted jabs that Hoshi easily blocked, then seemed to decide to get serious. As he feinted with his left and swung for her with his right fist, she blocked and lifted with her left, turning her hand to grab his wrist and push his arm up and away, leaving his ribs unprotected. She delivered four rapid-fire punches with her right, followed up with a knee to his waist, and as he staggered, kicked the outside of his left knee so that it buckled, bringing his face down to the perfect height for a solid right hook that dropped him.
Hoshi stepped back, not even breathing heavily, as Romero lay on his face on the ground, catching his breath. “I didn’t hurt you too much, did I?” she asked calmly. “Sometimes we Fleeters go a little hard.” She caught the guilty expression on Cole and Chang’s faces but kept hers innocent. Malcolm wore an impassive expression, but she saw the tiniest crinkle around his eyes. Esk stood beside him, fighting to hold down their grin.
Romero got to his feet and shook hands with Hoshi with a wry smile. "Good match," he said, and headed off to stand beside Money.
“Next?” Hoshi asked Hayes, who was looking at her with a small frown between his eyes. He gestured for Cole to take the next round. Hoshi studied her opponent as she walked forward. Amanda Cole wore a look of determination that told Hoshi there would be no quarter given. This was no time for friendly banter. Cole would be on a mission to avenge the MACO pride.
Sure enough, Amanda came at her almost immediately, raining blows with both fists. For a few seconds Hoshi could do no more than block, until she saw an opening and slammed the flat of her foot straight into Cole’s belly, knocking the other woman back a few steps. She followed up her advantage with rapid-fire blows of her own, and the two traded close-quarters blows and kicks, each seeking an opportunity to take the other down.
Then Hoshi saw her chance. Grabbing Cole around the back of her neck with her left hand, she slammed her right elbow into the side of Amanda’s face, knocking her off-balance. Stepping back and turning slightly, Hoshi leapt into the air, scissoring her legs around the MACO’s waist and tumbling forward, bringing Amanda with her as she rolled until Cole had ended up on her back. Kneeling astride Cole’s supine form, Hoshi landed a short, sharp left hook that rocked the other woman’s head to the side.
Rising, panting slightly this time, Hoshi leaned down to Amanda, offering her hand. For a moment it seemed as though Cole would refuse, but then she reached up in turn and rose with Hoshi’s help, manipulating her jaw. Grinning, she nodded at the other woman.
“You’ve got a mean streak, Sato,” she said in a low voice, pitched only for Hoshi’s ears. Hoshi grinned at her in turn.
“When it comes to my crew and Lieutenant Reed? You’re damn right I can be mean,” she said, her voice equally low. Understanding crossed Cole’s face, and she nodded, stepping back toward the end of the MACO line to join Money and Romero.
Hoshi turned to Hayes. “Who’s next?” she asked.
Hayes looked at her, frowning openly this time. “I think we’ve seen enough, Ensign,” but Malcolm interrupted.
“I believe the idea was to see where there are gaps, Major,” he said smoothly. “The ensign is the only one who’s stayed on her feet all this time. She should only be replaced once she’s knocked down, according to your own rules.” He lifted a brow at Hayes, then looked at Hoshi, a small smile quirking his lips. “I, for one, am keen to see Ensign Sato’s hand-to-hand combat skills in use outside of our sparring sessions. Your MACOs might learn something.”
“Lieutenant-” Hayes began, but was interrupted once again.
“Send in the next MACO, Major,” the tactical officer instructed, a note of finality in his voice.
Hayes stiffened, then turned and gestured to Chang. Once again Hoshi studied her opponent. She’d seen Chang in action and knew this would be a harder fight than the other three. As a proponent of taekwondo, he was fast, agile, and strong. Her karate and aikido skills might not get her out of this one. Chang had mentioned that he was used to a more chivalrous environment than he’d found on Enterprise. Maybe that would go in her favour, though she doubted it. He’d seen some of what she was capable of. She’d have to bring out some of her other tricks, including what she and Esk had been practising.
Unlike the others, Chang didn’t raise his fists. Instead, he began circling, hands loose but ready to block at a moment’s notice. He was taller than Hoshi, though closer to Malcolm’s height than Romero had been. This time, Hoshi decided, she needed to take the fight to him.
He would use his taekwondo; he was probably expecting her to react with aikido, or even karate. But although she'd been born in Kyoto, she’d been raised in Brazil, a member of the Brazilian-Japanese community; and even though her parents were both Japanese, capoeira had become an integral part of her activities outside the dojo, allowing her to remain flexible and agile in both dancing and martial arts.
She moved forward, swinging a foot at him to test his reactions. He kicked out, sweeping her leg aside, and she pivoted on her other heel, keeping her raised foot in the air, bringing it back and kicking out again to make him jerk back. She saw the flicker of surprise in his eyes, but he didn’t let it put him off his tactics. The two of them went into a flowing series of attacks, both spinning and kicking at each other, attempting to sweep each other’s legs and leaping to avoid attacks. Hoshi found herself grinning wildly as their two different styles melded together into one smooth glide around the mat, feet missing faces by mere millimetres as they struck and parried.
But it was time to bring this to an end. Anticipating one of Chang’s kicks, she allowed herself to be knocked back to the floor and continued rolling until she was back on her feet, charging toward Chang as he followed up his kick with a move toward her. Her momentum allowed her to plant one foot on his thigh and run up his body to land on his shoulders so she could clamp her legs around his neck. Using it as a fulcrum, she swung her entire body around once, and then aimed her shoulders toward the floor on her second sweep. As she rolled, Chang went with her and crashed to the ground, Hoshi landing with her knees on either side of his head, right fist already cocked and smacking into his jaw.
Panting, she rose from his supine body, once again holding out her hand to help him. Holding his jaw, he accepted her help and rose, then grinned at her with a bit of difficulty. “That’s not karate or aikido,” he said.
“Nope,” she said, smiling. “I learned capoeira in Brazil and I practise it with the Lieutenant and Ensign Parker. We’ve added a few other moves besides.” She flashed a smile at Malcolm and Esk, then returned her attention to Chang. “That was a good workout; we should do it again sometime.”
Chang reached out and shook her hand. “Happy to learn something new,” he said.
She winked. “Sometimes we Fleeters can provide a new way of looking at things.”
He winced a little, looking rueful, then grinned and stepped to the end of the line.
“Very well done, Ensign,” said Malcolm, a note of pride in his voice. “Are you prepared to keep going?”
“Yes, sir,” Hoshi responded. “I’ll carry on until you tell me otherwise.”
Hayes looked as if he wanted to object, but a glare from Malcolm stopped any objection in its tracks, and Hoshi readied for the next bout. It was a point of pride now for her to wipe the floor with them.
She took down the remaining six MACOs using various tactics, including a Klingon move that Malcolm had taught her after their time on board the ship trapped by the gas giant. Several of them had landed blows on her, but hadn’t managed to bring her down, or not long enough to count, at any rate.
Her last opponent, Private Hamboyan, had come at her with a classic boxing move; she’d grabbed his hand in both of hers and used his arm as leverage to swing both feet up and grab his neck in her ankles, twisting hard to bring him crashing to the ground before releasing him and jumping to her feet.
By now she was covered in sweat and breathing hard, so it was with a sense of some relief that she heard Malcolm’s voice.
“I think we’re done here now, Major. That’s the last of your MACOs and I believe Ensign Sato has given an excellent accounting of herself. Wouldn’t you say?”
“Agreed, Lieutenant,” said Hayes. “I’m afraid we underestimated the abilities of your communications officer. She may not look like a threat, but she certainly is one. Am I to understand that every member of the senior staff is as accomplished?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, Major,” said Reed, “but every member of staff, senior or not, is required to undergo extensive hand-to-hand combat training with the armoury staff on a weekly basis. Ensigns Sato and Parker take their training a little further than most. I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s in everyone’s best interests for them to continue, and to share their knowledge with the larger group.” He paused, and looked at Hoshi, then back at Hayes. “If that’s all, I believe we can end the session and regroup on Tuesday.”
The two nodded at each other and Hayes turned away to speak to the MACOs. The rest of the Starfleet team gathered around Hoshi, talking excitedly.
“You did it!” Esk enthused, grabbing Hoshi into a tight hug. “And you even used the air-shoulder move we practised!”
“Couldn’t have done it without you, Esk,” Hoshi smiled. “Or you, Lieutenant,” she said, turning to Malcolm, who stood a little way behind Esk. “That Klingon move came in handy, but if you and Esk hadn’t been training with me so regularly, I wouldn’t have had much chance to practise some of the more obscure takedowns.”
“You outdid yourself, Ensign,” Malcolm responded. “I’ve rarely been so pleased to see moves executed so flawlessly. Well done.”
Hoshi flushed faintly at the praise and the twinkling smile she received from the tactical officer. Beyond him, she saw Chang, Romero, Cole, and Money watching her. All four of them nodded and sent her a salute, waiting for her to nod back before turning and following the rest of their team out of the room.
Looking over Esk’s head, she saw Malcolm watching her, a grin on his face now that the MACOs had left. He winked and nodded at her, and she grinned back.
Didn’t look like any MACOs would be smack-talking the Enterprise crew - or its tactical officer - any time soon, she thought, and with that satisfying conclusion in her head, she turned back to join in the chatter around her.